HEADLINES

49ers Bring Back WR Kendrick Bourne

September 8th, 2025 at 10:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

Kendrick Bourne is indeed heading back to San Francisco. The veteran wideout has a deal in place with the 49ers, per a Monday announcement from his agency.

Bourne’s pact is one year in length and has a maximum value of $5MM. San Francisco hosted him on a free agent visit recently, and an offer was made. Shortly after also meeting with the Commanders, Bourne has chosen a familiar landing environment for the 2025 season.

[RELATED: Colton McKivitz Agrees To 49ers Extension]

The former UDFA spent his first four seasons with the 49ers, serving as a regular on offense during that time. Bourne helped his free agent value with a strong 2020 performance, handling a 66% snap share that season. He inked a three-year pact with the Patriots during his first trip to the open market.

Bourne set a new career high with 55 catches and 800 yards during his debut New England campaign, matching his personal best with five touchdowns as well. Over the following three seasons, however, things did not go according to plan. It came as little surprise when New England elected to move on during roster cuts at the end of training camp. In the wake of that decision, it became clear the 49ers were a potential suitor in this case.

San Francisco spent the past few weeks in search of healthy receiving options. Brandon Aiyuk is still on the mend from the ACL tear he suffered last season, while Jacob Cowing opened the campaign on injured reserve (meaning he will be unavailable through at least Week 5). Demarcus Robinson, meanwhile, is serving a three-week suspension and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes Jauan Jennings suffered a shoulder injury yesterday.

Bourne is fully healthy, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds he could play as early as Week 2. That would be a welcomed development for a 49ers team which traded for Skyy Moore and signed Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the lead-up to Week 1. Bourne will join those two, along with Ricky Pearsall, as WR options for San Francisco until the team receives reinforcements at the position.

After playing eight games in 2023 and 12 last year, Bourne will look for a better campaign in terms of availability during his second San Francisco stint. Especially once the team’s other pass catchers are back in the fold, it will be interesting to see how his role takes shape.

49ers, RT Colton McKivitz Agree To Extension

September 8th, 2025 at 10:11pm CST by Adam La Rose

Extension talks between Colton McKivitz and the 49ers have yielded success. An agreement was reached on a new deal Monday morning.

Team and player have a three-year pact in place, per McKivitz’s agents (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). The extension is worth $45MM and includes $27MM guaranteed. San Francisco’s right tackle was a pending free agent, but he is now on the books through 2028.

McKivitz inked a one-year extension last March, and that pact contained $3.85MM in total compensation for 2025. A raise was certainly possible given his level of play and the upward nature of the right tackle market. The 29-year-old recently admitted he was acutely aware of the position’s finances and the impact it would have on his next 49ers pact. With one game in the books for the current season, a long-term commitment is now in place.

The $15MM average annual value of this deal constitutes a notable raise from McKivitz’s previous San Francisco contracts, and it represents another example of how the right tackle market has thrived in recent years. The per-year value of this agreement (at least, as it appears at first glance) matches that of Jaylon Moore, who played out his rookie contract with the 49ers before joining the Chiefs in free agency. That departure left San Francisco in need of a new swing tackle, but McKivitz is now assured of remaining in place well beyond 2025.

The former fifth-round pick saw time at right guard as a rookie, but since then he has operated exclusively as a tackle. McKivitz made just one start in each of the 2021 and ’22 campaigns; following Mike McGlinchey‘s free agent departure, though, he took on full-time right tackle duties. McKivitz was graded out as PFF’s No. 47 offensive tackle in 2023 and last season he improved, finishing 34th at the position.

The 49ers are committing to continued development or at least stable play at the RT spot for years to come. Trent Williams remains under contract through 2026 as one of the league’s highest-paid left tackles. San Francisco’s interior setup along the offensive line remains highly inexpensive for the time being, especially given the decision to allow guard Aaron Banks to depart on the open market in March. With McKivitz now in the fold for years to come at an increased rate, though, expectations will be elevated regarding the team’s tackle play.

Buccaneers CB Jamel Dean Accepts Pay Cut

September 8th, 2025 at 10:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jamel Dean‘s Buccaneers future was a talking point this offseason, although the veteran corner remained in place once roster cuts were finished. Dean has worked out a restructure which could make this season his final one in Tampa Bay, though.

Team and player agreed to a pay cut on Monday, as first reported by PewterReport’s Joshua Queipo. The move has since been confirmed by Fox Sports’ Greg Auman, who notes Dean’s base pay for this season has been reduced from $12.5MM to $4.25MM. $750K could be earned back through playtime incentives.

Critically, the restructure also removed the final year of Dean’s contract. The former third-rounder was on the books through 2026 (although his scheduled compensation for that year was not guaranteed). Instead, Dean is now on track for free agency next spring. Given today’s news, it could certainly come as no surprise if a departure were to take place on the open market in this case.

Dean emerged as a starter for the Super Bowl winning Buccaneers in 2020, and he’s maintained his starting spot over the past four years. Thanks to his production, the defensive back earned a four-year, $52MM contract ($21.5MM guaranteed) from Tampa Bay ahead of the 2023 campaign. He’s continued to produce under his active contract, with Pro Football Focus grading him as a top-3o cornerback over each of the past two seasons.

While the Buccaneers may be signaling that they don’t have future plans for the cornerback, the team is clearly relying on him for the time being. Once a candidate to get benched, Dean earned a 97 percent snap share yesterday. The 28-year-old finished the season opener with six tackles and three passes defended.

The organization clearly started preparing for a post-Dean secondary during this year’s draft. The team selected Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison in the second round before selecting Kansas State’s Jacob Parrish in the third round. With Zyon McCollum and Josh Hayes also still attached to their rookie contracts, the Buccaneers are clearly pivoting to youth in their cornerbacks room.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

Dolphins OL James Daniels, CB Storm Duck To Miss Several Weeks

September 8th, 2025 at 8:56pm CST by Ben Levine

As the Dolphins look to right the ship following an embarrassing season-opening loss, they’ll have to do so without a handful of key starters. According to multiple reports, it sounds like the Dolphins will be dealing with absences on both sides of the ball for at least the next few weeks.

On offense, starting guard James Daniels exited yesterday’s loss after only three offensive snaps thanks to a pec injury. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the injury isn’t expected to end the veteran’s season, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes that the lineman didn’t suffer any muscle tears. Still, Daniels will likely be out of the lineup for at least the next three to four weeks.

Daniels was making his Miami debut after inking a three-year, $24MM deal with the franchise this past offseason. A former starter with the Bears and Steelers, the lineman was limited to four games in 2024 thanks to a torn Achilles.

The offseason acquisition wasn’t the only offensive lineman to suffer an injury. According to Jackson, the Dolphins are getting opinions on Austin Jackson‘s toe injury. The right tackle got into 79 percent of his team’s offensive snaps yesterday. A former first-round pick, injuries have been a theme of Jackson’s career, as he was limited to two games in 2022 thanks to an ankle injury and eight games in 2024 thanks to a knee injury.

The injuries also apply to the defense, as Jackson notes that cornerback Storm Duck will miss several weeks after suffering an ankle injury during the second quarter of yesterday’s loss. The former UDFA was a pleasant surprise in Miami last season, where he compiled 35 tackles while starting three of his 14 appearances. He got into 29 defensive snaps yesterday before exiting the contest.

Fortunately, there is some optimism surrounding another Dolphins injury. Jackson says that tight end Darren Waller will try to suit up for this Sunday’s matchup against the Patriots. If he can’t go, then a Week 3 return against the Bills will be a realistic target. The veteran’s return from retirement has been delayed by a lingering hip injury.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/8/25

September 8th, 2025 at 6:36pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Carolina Panthers

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

New York Giants

New York Jets

  • Signed: OL Liam Fornadel

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL Minor Transactions: 9/8/25

September 8th, 2025 at 6:29pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

  • Waived from IR: DT Kristian Williams

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Free Agency

Cowboys defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey will now be out through the month of September after landing on IR today. Winfrey has been dealing with a back injury that forced him to miss the season opener. The 25-year-old joined the Cowboys back in June following a successful showing in the UFL.

Free agent defensive back Kemon Hall has been hit with a three-game ban, according to ESPN’s Ben Baby. The suspension would go into effect once the player joins a team. The 2019 UDFA most recently spent the preseason with the Cowboys. He was among the team’s final cuts and subsequently landed on their practice squad, but he was released days later. The 28-year-old has appeared in 24 career games.

49ers’ George Kittle To Miss Multiple Weeks

September 8th, 2025 at 6:01pm CST by Ben Levine

While the 49ers escaped Week 1 with a victory, it wasn’t all positive news for the organization. George Kittle exited yesterday’s win in the first half after suffering a hamstring injury, and it sounds like the veteran tight end will miss a handful of games. While speaking with reporters today, coach Kyle Shanahan said Kittle will miss some time as he recovers from the injury (per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner).

While Shanahan indicated that his star TE will miss multiple weeks, he wouldn’t commit to Kittle landing on injured reserve (via Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group). Ian Rapoport of NFL Network has a more definitive timeline for the Pro Bowler, as a source indicated that Kittle would miss between three and five weeks. That timeline would make the player a prime candidate for IR.

While injuries were a theme early in Kittle’s career, the tight end has remained relatively healthy recently. Since being limited to eight games in 2020, the veteran has missed eight total contests over the past four years. He’s also continued to produce as he passed his age-30 season; after finishing the 2023 campaign with 1,022 yards, Kittle compiled 1,106 yards during the 2024 season. He seemed to pick up where he left off to start 2025, as he found the end zone to cap off San Francisco’s first offensive possession.

With Kittle out of the lineup, the 49ers will turn to Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell. Tonges made the most noise yesterday, hauling in three receptions, including the eventual game-winning touchdown.

The injuries don’t stop there. Shanahan revealed that quarterback Brock Purdy is dealing with both a shoulder and toe injury, with the coach stating “we’ll see” when asked about the player’s status for Week 2 (per Wagoner). Shanahan said the toe issue is more serious than the shoulder issue, and the team will use the upcoming week to evaluate the quarterback’s progress. If Purdy isn’t able to go against the Saints, Mac Jones would draw the start.

Finally, receiver Jauan Jennings was sidelined yesterday thanks to a shoulder injury. Shanahan told reporters that the team is still awaiting imaging on the wideout, although initial tests indicated that the player should be okay (per Wagoner). With Brandon Aiyuk out to start the season and Deebo Samuel no longer on the squad, the 49ers were going to be especially reliant on Jennings to begin the 2025 season. The 28-year-old hauled in a pair of catches for 16 yards before exiting yesterday’s game.

Chargers LB Denzel Perryman Suffers High Ankle Sprain

September 8th, 2025 at 4:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Chargers secured a win in Week 1, but their defense suffered a notable loss along the way. Linebacker Denzel Perryman departed early in the contest, and he was in a walking boot after the game.

Testing has taken place, and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports a high ankle sprain has been diagnosed. As a result, missed time is in store. High ankle sprains tend to carry a recovery timeline of multiple weeks, so a move to injured reserve could be in store.

[RELATED: Chargers DC Jesse Minter Potential 2026 HC Candidate?]

An IR stint would require at least a four-game absence, so it will be interesting to see how the Chargers proceed in this case. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Monday (via ESPN’s Kris Rhim) no decision regarding IR has been made yet. Perryman played eight snaps on Friday before suffering the injury. His departure represented a blow to the Chargers’ defense, although the unit nevertheless enjoyed a solid outing in the 27-21 win over the Chiefs.

Perryman has served as a full-time starter for much of his career, including his second Chargers stint. The 32-year-old returned to Los Angeles last offseason on a one-year pact. He was limited to 11 games, but when on the field the former second-rounder was a key figure defensively. Perryman took another one-year deal in March to stay with the Bolts, and by late May he was fully recovered from the elbow injury he suffered in the wild-card round.

A fully healthy season would have been critical for team and player, but that will not be the case in 2025. Perryman is set to spend time on the shelf, something which will leave Los Angeles thin at the second level. Junior Colson was placed on season-ending injured reserve during roster cuts due to a shoulder injury. 2023 third-rounder Daiyan Henley and sixth-year veteran Troy Dye handled much of the linebacker work on Friday, and that will likely continue with Perryman sidelined.

The former Pro Bowler’s 2026 market value will take a hit with further missed time. In the event the Chargers do not move him to injured reserve, however, Perryman will be eligible to return within the next four weeks.

Texans TE Cade Stover Suffers Broken Foot

September 8th, 2025 at 2:26pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Texans’ tight end depth has been dealt another blow early in the season. Cade Stover suffered a broken foot yesterday, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reports.

Stover is now out indefinitely as a result. The news comes after fellow tight end Brevin Jordan was lost for the season in August. A lengthy absence in Stover’s case would leave Houston notably short on options at the position.

The 2024 fourth-rounder played 16 combined regular and postseason games as a rookie despite undergoing an emergency appendectomy in December. Stover also had offseason shoulder surgery but was at full strength in time for Week 1. Losing him for an extended period will leave the Texans with Dalton Schultz as their top tight end; only he and Stover dressed at that position on Sunday.

Houston has a pair of replacement options on the practice squad. Harrison Bryant – acquired from the Eagles in the John Metchie trade – as well as seventh-round rookie Luke Lachey are in place on the team’s taxi squad at the moment. It would come as little surprise if at least one were to be elevated to the active roster shortly. Bryant is a veteran of 78 games, so the pending free agent could offer experienced depth at the position at least until other roster moves take place.

Stover recorded just 15 receptions and one touchdown last season, but he served as the Texans’ starter yesterday. The 25-year-old led the team in catches with four, producing 22 yards along the way. As Houston looks to improve on offense moving forward, the team will do so without an important figure in the picture for the time being.

NFL Could Suspend Eagles DT Jalen Carter

September 8th, 2025 at 1:52pm CST by Rory Parks

SEPTEMBER 8: No decision has been made yet regarding supplemental discipline for Carter at this point, Mark Maske of the Washington Post notes. He adds the league’s evaluation process is expected to conclude early this week, so clarity in the case case should emerge shortly.

SEPTEMBER 7: Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter did not play a single snap during his club’s win over the Cowboys in the NFL’s regular season opener on Thursday. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Carter may also miss at least Philadelphia’s Week 2 matchup with the Chiefs, as the league could suspend the 2024 Pro Bowler.

Following an injury to Philadelphia fullback Ben VanSumeren on the opening kickoff, Carter spit on Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott while the two teams were waiting on the field during the ensuing injury delay (it later became clear that Prescott spit in the direction of Carter and the Eagles’ defense before Carter’s retaliation). Carter was promptly ejected, and a decision from the NFL as to whether the Georgia product will miss any additional games is expected on Monday. 

He will at least receive a substantial fine, per Schefter, who says a speech given by NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent during the spring owner’s meetings could be instructive in this matter. In his speech, Vincent said sportsmanship posed one of the biggest threats to the NFL’s brand, and that there would be “zero tolerance for acts that demean the game.”

The Eagles survived the Cowboys contest and hung on for a 24-20 victory, but Carter’s absence was noticeable, particularly in the early stages of the game. The team would obviously love to have him on the field for the upcoming Super Bowl rematch.

Carter, the ninth overall pick of the 2023 draft, finished second to Texans defensive end Will Anderson in Defensive Player of the Year voting in his rookie season and earned Second Team All-Pro acclaim last year, in addition to his first Pro Bowl nod. He has compiled 10.5 sacks, 25 quarterback hits, and 20 tackles for loss over his first two years in the league.

“It was a mistake that happened on my side, and it just won’t happen again,” Carter said after the game. “I feel bad for my teammates and the fans out there. … It won’t happen again. I can make that promise.”

Technically, a suspension of any length would automatically void the remaining guarantees on Carter’s rookie contract, as Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports confirms. However, Jones says the club would not try to claw back any money, so the ascending player will likely earn every dollar due to him under his deal. He will be extension-eligible after the 2025 season.

Head coach Nick Sirianni did not indicate whether Carter would receive any internal discipline.

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